Inking mechanism for printing machines



Jan. 4, 1944. A. MPZUCKERMAN INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 16, 1941 INVFNTOR 1.]!

Jan. 4, 1944. 'A'. M, ZUCKERMAN INKING MECHANISM EORPRINTING MACHINES Filed oct. 16, 1941 2 Sheets- @991: 2

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Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE "INKINGlWECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Application October 16, 1941, Serial'No. 415,158

11 Claims.

This invention relates to'printing machines and more particularly to "inking mechanisms for printing machines of the rotary intaglio type which are adapted to be operated at relatively high speeds.

In machines of this kind, a'printing cylinder having a form that is usually etched or engraved, is rotated in an enclosure called a'fou'ntain, and receives ink, either from a pool of ink carried under the cylinder and intowhich its lowermost portion dips, or by pouring, spraying, or otherwise applying the ink to the periphery of the cylinder at a higher elevation. A doctor blade is held against the periphery of the cylinder to remove the ink adhering to the unetched or unengraved portions of its surface, and as the cylinder ro tates, ink is left only in the etched or engraved portions which constitute the printing form. "As the ink removed by the doctor blade falls .bac'k'in the fountain by gravityjit will be seen that as the cylinder speed is increased, the pressure of ink under the doctor blade is increased due to the inertia of the ink and the greater volume handled per unit of time, because the forces tending to raise the pressure increase with'the speed, but the force of gravity (whichtends to reduce the pressure), is constant.

A means to remove a portion f the surplus ink before it reaches the doctor blade and to evenly spread'the remaining ink along the cylinder, by the provision of a baflle member, and thus relieve the doctor blade of considerable work in this respect, is'shown in Patent No. 2,182,367, and the structure therein shown has been found eflicacious. The invention herein disclosed includes improvements over that shown in the former patent, and provides a simple structure and an improved means for controlling the ink at high printing machine speeds.

One object of this invention is to provide-in a rotary intaglio printing machine an inking mechanism including improved primary meansto remove surplus ink from the surface of a printing cylinder supplied with ink from a body of ink'in an ink fountain, a docotr blade for removing'surplus ink from this printing cylinder-after the primary means has acted, and improved means to direct the surplus ink back to the body of ink'in the fountain.

Another object is to provide in a rotary'intaglio printing machine, an ink fountain having improved means for preventing the escape 01" ink thrown or removed from the cylinder, and for preventing the entry of matter that would interfere with the normal operation of the machine.

Still another object is to provide in an inking mechanism for the printing cylinder of a rotary intaglio printing machine havingan ink fountain with a body of ink therein, and a "reciprocable doctor blade, an ink receiving pocket disposed at each end of the fountain and below the doctor blade, whereby surplus ink collected and carried by the doctor blade mechanism will be caught and led'back to the body of ink.

It is also an objecttof" this invention to provide an inkingv mechanism for a printing machine, of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple; durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient,'practical, serviceable and efiicient'in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,'the invention residesin the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope. of What'is claimed, without departing from the spirit 'of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a partial end view of a rotary in- .taglio printing machine, theflinkfountain being shown in section and along line |l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ink fountain and associated parts with the. impression cylinder, and the doctor blade and its mechanism removed, as seen in the direction of arrows 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a broken sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, and'as seen in the direction of the arrows.

The rotary intaglio printing machine illustrated in the drawings includesalprinting cylinder ll having the usualintaglio'cavities, forming the design to be printed,up'on its peripheral surface l2, an impression cylinder 13,. and pressure rollers i l and i5, arrangedto printimpressions upon a web it fed between the printing cylinder H and the impression c'yliriderl3. "The printing cylinder H is rotatably supported at each end in bearings ll preferably removablyretained in the end walls t3 and i9 ofan ink fountain 2|, by clamp means includingfa clamp bar 22 and a clamp screw 23. One endof'the clamp bar .22 is pivotally secured. to a bearing member 24 and has its otheriend in engagement with the adjacent end Wall of thefountain'whereby'proper '38, may drain into the fountain 2i.

manipulation of the screw 23 will tighten and retain the bearing member 24 in place.

The ink fountain 21 is provided with a convex bottom 25 having an ink drain port 25 therein suitably closed by a removable plug 2? and a plurality of ink inlet ports 28 and ink outlet ports 29. A pipe 3i leads from each inlet ort 28 to a suitable reservoir of ink, and a pipe 32 leads from each outlet port 29 back to the reservoir, it being understood that ink is forced through the pipe iii to the inlet ports 28 by a suitable pump (not shown). A short tubular and flared nipple 33 is disposed in each outlet port 29 and preferably extends upwardly therefrom to the extent required to maintain the desired level of ink, as indicated by dash lines 34 in Figure 1. An ink filter screen 35 is provided and is hung from studs 53 screw threaded into the side wall 31 of the ink fountain 2|.

A doctor blade 33 engages the peripheral surface it of the printing cylinder H to remove surplus ink therefrom, and is clamped between and carried by bars 39 and H which are supported on arms 42 secured on a shaft 43 journaled in brackets M. The brackets 44 are mounted on a slide 35 which, by means of the usual mechanism (not shown) is adapted to slide on ways if: provided and extending between side frames 17 and 48 of the printing machine, where frames 4'! and 68 by bolts 53, and is provided with ink receiving pockets and 52, one at each end of the doctor blade 3-8 and adjacent each end wall i8 and IQ of the ink fountain, the said end walls is and I9 forming the outer walls of the pockets 5! and 52 respectively. A primary ink deflector, or baffle member 54 extends between the pockets 5! and 52 and preferably has -a trough formation, with a bottom 55 inclined downwardly and away from the printing cylinder 12. The front edge 55 of the ink deflector 54 is disposed closely adajacent to the peripheral surface l2 of the cylinder H below the doctor blade 38, and acts to remove the greater portion of the ink carried upward by the cylinder before it reaches the doctor blade A baiile rib 57 depending from the ink deflector bottom 55 directs this surplus ink downwardly into-the fountain 2 l Openings 58 are provided in the bottom 55 of the ink deflector 54 and back of the baffle rib 51, through which ink, removed from the surface l2 of the cylinder II by the doctor blade The back wall 59 of the ink deflector 54 is secured to a plate 5! by screws 62. The plate '51 is secured by screws 63 to an ink deflector shaft 64 journaled at each end in brackets 65 secured by bolts 66 to the side wall 31 of the fountain. End walls 51 and 68 are preferably provided on the ink deflector 54, and serve to close the inner ends of the ink pockets 5| and 52.

' The forward edges of the end walls 61 and 68 are so arranged that each of the walls rests upon a side wall of a hood member ill, one of which is secured to each end Wall of the fountain and extends over the adjacent end of the cylinder, a small clearance being allowed between the cylinder and the hood. The forward edge 55 of the ink deflector 54 which is supported close to the cylinder, is prevented from touching it, as the weight of the ink deflector is borne by the end walls whichare secured to it. The upper edges 69 of the walls 6? and 68 are preferably shaped so as to be substantially parallel to the underside of clamp bar 39 and the extending edge of the doctor blade 5t. Any ink that is carried past the walls 67 and 68 by the doctor blade 38 will drop into the pockets 5| and 52 and drain back into the fountain through openings II and I2 provided in the respective pockets 5i and 52 for this purpose.

A handle member 13 is secured to one end of the ink deflector shaft 64 and adjacent to the machine frame 41. The handle member '33 is provided with an arcuate slot 15. A bolt 15, screw threaded into the machine frame 41, rides in the slot 15 and when tightened, is adapted to clamp the handle member it in adjusted position. The handle member E3 is provided to rock the shaft 64 and through it, swing the plate GI and ink deflector 54 upwardly and out of the fountain 2| as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, so that the cylinder H may be lifted from the fountain 2|.

A fountain cover TI is provided for the fountain fl and consists of an upper portion 71a and a lower portion ill), the two portions being rigidly joined by end plates Ho and intermediate braces lld, the construction being such that the objectionable features of a tight covered fountain are absent, although entry of paper or other objectionable matter is prevented. The bottom member of the cover is secured to a shaft 18 by means of screws 8|, the shaft 18 being journaled at each end in a bracket 19.

The brackets I9 are secured by bolts 82 to a side wall 83 of the fountain 2i. A handle 84, secured to the shaft F8, is provided to rock the shaft and swing the fountain cover 11 upwardly into the dotted line position shown in Figure l, and thus out of the Way of the cylinder II when it is removed from the fountain 2|.

It will be seen that with the fountain herein disclosed, means are provided for expeditiously opening and closing it to permit change of cylinders, and when the printing cylinder is rotated at a speed necessary for high speed press operation, ink carried by the cylinder will be prevented from building up excess pressure under the doctor blade, and ink removed from the cylinder by the doctor blade will drain back into the fountain without hindrance. Also, provision is made for recovering ink that escapes under each end of the doctor blade, and ink thrown from the ends of the cylinder is kept within the fountain by the hoods and covers provided.

It is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a fountain for a rotary intaglio printing machine having a printing cylinder rotatably mounted therein, and a pivotally mounted doctor blade supporting mechanism adapted to recipro- Gate with respect to the cylinder and to be swung away from operating position, ink pockets in the fountai'nyone at each end thereof and extending inwardly from the opposite end walls'of the fountain and being locatedadjacent each end of the doctor blade supporting mechanism and each having a "drain communicating with the fountain, and a wall 'at the side of each pocket, shaped approximately to the contour'of the doctor blade mechanism, and adapted to restrict escape of ink below each end of the doctor'blade supporting mechanism.

2. In inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotary printing cylinder, an ink fountain-in which the cylinder'rotates and has its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a doctor blade, mechanism adapted to reciprocate parallel'to'the axis of the cylinder and arranged for supporting the doctor blade in position to engage the surface of thecylinder to remove surplus ink therefrom, an ink receiving pocket at each end of the fountain and extending from opposite end walls thereof toward each other and beingin communication with the fountain at each end of the cylinder and over which an end of the doctor blade 'reciprocates, and an inner wall for'each pocket having an upper edge shaped to approximately conform to the contour of the under surface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism to remove ink therefrom as they reciprocate.

3. In inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotary printing cylinder, an ink fountain in which the cylinder rotates and has its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink in the fountain, a doctor blade, mechanism adapted to reciprocate parallel to the axis of the cylinder and arranged for supporting the doctor blade in position to engage the surface of the cylinder to remove surplus ink therefrom, a primary ink deflector disposed below the doctor blade and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly and away from the cylinder with its forward edge closely adjacent the cylinder to remove excess ink therefrom as it rotates, said deflector having a back wall, and openings alongthe back wall communicating with the fountain, means to support the deflector for swinging movement away from the cylinder, and upstanding end walls for the deflector having upper surfaces substantially conforming with the contour of the undersurface of the doctor blade and its supportingmechamsm to remove ink therefrom as they reciprocate.

4. In inking mechanism for a printlng machine having a rotary printing cylinder, an ink fountain in which the cylinder rotates and has its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a doctor blade, mechanism adapted to reciprocate parallel to the axis of the cylinder and for supporting the doctor blade in position to engage the surface of the cylinder to remove surplus lnk therefrom, an ink receiving pocket lll communication with the fountain at each end of the cylinder and over which an end of the doctor blade reciprocates, a primary ink deflector disposed below the doctor blade and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly and away from the cylinder with its forward edge closely adjacent the cylinder to remove excess ink therefrom as it rotates from the ink in the fountain, said deflector having a back wall and openings along the back wall communicating with the fountain, means to support the deflector for swinging movement away from the cylinder, and upstanding walls disposed below the doctor blade between the ends of the deflector and the inner ends of the pockets and having upper surfaces substantially conforming with the contour 1 of the undersurface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism to remcveink therefrom 'as they reciprocate.

'5. Inking mechanism for rotary intaglio printing machines including an ink fountain and a printing cylinder rotatable in the ink fountain to have its eripheral surface partially immersed in the ink-therein, a trough-like primary ink deflector disposed above the ink in the fountain and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to a side Wall of the fountain and -'a back wall extending upwardly along said side w'alLdrain openings in said bottom wall communicating with the fountain, a reciprocable doctor blade and its supporting mechanism extending over the trough-like deflector "coverin the same and with the doctor blade in contact with the periphery of the cylinder, an up standing wall at each end'of the deflector having its upper surface substantially :conforming in shape to the undersurface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism.

'6. gInking mechanism for a rotary intaglio printing machine including an ink fountain and a printing cylinder rotatable in the ink fountain to have its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a trough like primary ink deflector disposed above the ink in the fountain and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to a side wall of the fountain :and a back wallextending upwardly along said side wall, drain openings in said bottom wall communicating with the fountain, a reciprocable doctor blade and its supporting mechanism extending over the trough-like deflector covering the same and with the doctor blade in contact with the periphery of the cylinder, and an upstanding wall at each end of the deflector having its upper surface substantially conforming in shape to the under-surface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism, and an ink receiving pocket at each end of the deflector beyond the wall thereat and having an opening therein in communication with the fountain.

7. Inking mechanism for rotary intaglio printing machines including an ink fountain and a printing cylinder rotatable in the ink fountain to have its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a trough-like primary ink deflector disposed above the ink in the fountain and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to a side wall of the fountain and a back wall extending upwardly along said side wall, drain openings in said bottom wall communicating with the fountain, a reciprocable doctor blade and its supporting mechanism extending over the trough-like deflector covering the same and with the doctor blade in contact with the periphery of the cylinder, and an upstanding wall at each end of the deflector having its upper surface substantially conforming in shape to the under-surface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism, and an ink receiving pocket at each end of the deflector beyond the wall thereat and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from the cylinder toward a side wall of the fountain, the upstanding walls at the ends of the deflector each forming an end wall for the pocket, and an opening in the bottom wall communicating with the fountain.

8. Inking mechanism for a rotary intaglio printing machine including an ink fountain and a printing cylinder rotatable in the ink fountain to have its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a trough-lik primary ink deflector disposed above the ink in the fountain and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder to a side wall of the fountain and a back wall extending upwardly along the side wall, drain openings in the bottom wall communicating with the fountain, a reciprocable doctor blade and its supporting mechanism extending over the trough-like deflector covering the same and with the doctor blade in contact with the periphery of the cylinder, an upstanding wall at each end of the deflector having its upper surface substantially conforming in shape to the under-surface of the doctor blade and its supporting mechanism and its front wall substantially conforming to the periphery of the cylinder, and an ink receiving pocket at each end of the deflector beyond the end wall thereof and having a bottom wall inclined downwardly from the cylinder toward a side wall of the fountain, an end wall of the fountain forming an end wall for the pocket, and an opening in the bottom wall communicating with the fountain.

9. In a fountain for a rotary intaglio printing machine having a printing cylinder rotatably mounted therein, and a doctor blade supporting mechanism adapted to reciprocate the doctor blade with respect to the cylinder and to move it away from operating position, ink pockets in the fountain, one at each end thereof and extending inwardly from the opposite end walls of the fountain and being located one under each end of the doctor blade, and each having a drain communicating with the fountain, the fountain and each pocket having a common end wall, and an inner end wall for each pocket.

10. In inking mechanism for a printing machine having a rotary printing cylinder, an ink fountain in which the cylinder rotates and has its peripheral surface partially immersed in ink, a doctor blade, mechanism adapted to reciprocate parallel to the axis of the cylinder and arranged for supporting the doctor blade in position to engage the surface of the cylinder to remove surplus ink therefrom, ink receiving pockets, one at each end of the fountain and extending from opposite end walls thereof toward each other and being in communication with the fountain and over which the ends of the doctor blade extend, the fountain and each pocket having common end walls, and an inner end wall for each pocket.

11. In an inking mechanism for' a printing machine having a rotary cylinder, an ink fountain in which the cylinder rotates, a doctor blade adapted to reciprocate axially across the cylinder, a pocket at each end of the fountain, each pocket having a bottom with an opening therein communicating with the fountain, the end walls of the fountain forming outer end walls for the pockets, and an ink deflector disposed below the doctor blade and having upstanding end walls forming inner end walls for the pockets and a bottom wall with its forward edge disposed closely adjacent the cylinder.

ADOLPH M. ZUCKERMAN. 

